10 Steps to a Successful Interview

1.  Arrive on time.
2.  Introduce yourself in a courteous manner.
3.  Read company materials while you wait.
4.  Have a firm handshake.
5.  Listen.
6.  Use body language to show interest.
7.  Smile, nod, give nonverbal feedback to the interviewer.
8.  Ask about the next step in the process.
9.  Thank the interviewer.
10. Write a thank-you letter to anyone you have spoken to.
 

Sample Questions Asked by Employers 

1.  Tell me about yourself.
2.  Why should I hire you?
3.  What is your long-range objective?
     Where do you want to be 10 or 15 years from now?
4.  How has your education prepared you for your career?
5.  Are you a team player?
6.  Have you ever had a conflict with a boss or professor? How was it resolved?
7.  What is your greatest weakness?
8.  If I were to ask your professors to describe you, what would they say?
9.  What qualities do you feel a successful manager should have?
10. If you had to live your life over again, what would you change?
 

Questions a Potential Employer Could Ask Based on Behavior

Initiative
Describe a time when you had to step in and take care of a situation or set a new direction for yourself.  What was the situation?  What was the result?

Analytical and creative Thinking
Tell me about an especially difficult decision you’ve made in the past year.  What factors did you consider in formulating your decision?  What was the result?

Goal setting
Tell me about a system that you use for goal setting.  To what extent does it involve using written objectives, paperwork or forms?

Quality Focus
Describe a time when you were really proud of the quality of work you were doing.  Tell me about another time when the work you were doing did not meet your standard of quality.

Results Orientation
Can you remember a time when you needed to make personal sacrifices in order to meet a goal?  What happened?  Did you accomplish this goal?

Relationship Building
How would you describe your current network of business contacts?  How did you go about building that network?  Give some examples.

Respect for Others
How would you recognize and reward people for their accomplishments?  Give me some examples of when you have done so.  How often do you do so?

Leadership Influence
Describe a time when you took a strong stand on an issue that was important to you.  What was the situation?  What action did you take?  What was the end result?

Communication
Tell me about your most successful effort at keeping an open flow of communication to others in your “community”?  What was the situation?  What communication vehicles and means did you utilize?

Teamwork
Describe your effort to promote teamwork within your own group.  Define your group.  What did you do to promote teamwork?  How did people respond?  What were the results of your efforts?

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